Chapter 54 - < Peekaboo >

The young warriors still had matches left to fight at the Third Training Ground. Ordinarily, Kyle would have stayed to watch.

Even if the matches weren't good enough to set his heart racing, wasn't there a saying that watching amateurs brawl was more entertaining? Regardless of the level, Kyle enjoyed both fighting and watching others fight.

But for now, he had to set that preference aside. He quietly addressed Julius, who kept fiddling with his brooch.

"May I return to the Sword Tower to see Mom and Father?"

Kyle hadn't even asked about Isaac, sitting beside Julius, despite the fact that the unfamiliar middle-aged man was strong enough to make his mouth water.

That was how badly he wanted to return to the Sword Tower. Still stroking his brooch, Julius slowly nodded.

"Go on ahead."

"Thank you."

With permission granted, Kyle was about to leave the seats of honor at once when Isaac sprang up and offered him a handshake.

"My boy, this introduction is long overdue. I am Isaac Schulhov. I'm an old friend of your grandfather's. We're close enough to call each other brothers."

At the moment, even this unsolicited introduction felt like a nuisance, but Kyle didn't let it show. It would have been one thing if they hadn't spoken at all, but he couldn't ignore someone who addressed him first. Especially someone who was like a brother to Julius.

"I should have introduced myself sooner. Things were rather hectic. My name is Kyle Alastor."

"Ahem. I've heard a great deal about you from my older brother."

Isaac smiled fondly as he shook Kyle's hand.

"You're the darling grandson who turned that ever-dignified man into such a doting old fool, aren't you?"

"Isaac. Don't keep my grandson here with your nonsense."

Thankfully, Julius understood how Kyle felt. Still stroking the brooch, he shot Isaac a sidelong glare.

"The boy hasn't seen his parents for four years. He even gained a little sister in the meantime. Do you really want to hold him up?"

"Ahem. I only meant to introduce myself. That's all."

Chastened by Julius, Isaac released Kyle's hand with a sheepish smile.

"I'll be staying at the Sword Tower as a guest for a while. Let's talk again when you have some time."

"Yes. I'll see you another time."

Kyle bowed and descended from the seats of honor. The leather pouch still held gifts for Bruno, Erika, and Lucia, but he could give them those the next time they met.

The instant he came down, he circulated the Primordial Unity Sword Scripture and kicked off the ground.

WHOOSH!

The mana flowing ceaselessly through his circuits accelerated to tremendous speed, propelling him forward.

He passed through Gladiheim's lower, middle, and upper districts. The moment he crossed the Sword Garden on the highest level, which connected to the Sword Tower, scarlet mist burst forth to engulf him.

["Whelp! It's been far too long!"]

Baal cried out at the top of her lungs, but Kyle only accelerated further, piercing through the mist.

["W-whelp! Stop!"]

"Later."

The proud Demon King's sword shouted urgently, but Kyle passed through the Sword Garden and reached the Sword Tower without even looking back.

Despite crossing the vast expanse of Gladiheim all the way from its lower district, he wasn't the slightest bit out of breath. His total mana hadn't increased much during his four years in the Mudflats, but the circuits he had connected by eating residue and byproducts, together with the Primordial Unity Sword Scripture, allowed him an absurd degree of mana control.

And since his mana continued circulating without pause, it was no different from practicing his cultivation method the entire time he moved, without needing to sit down or concentrate. Throughout that process, every breath drew in more mana.

["Grrrgh..."]

Kyle did it as naturally as breathing, but Jorm simply couldn't get used to it. Previously, at least, he could coil up in the middle energy center and rest whenever Kyle wasn't cultivating. Now he had to refine mana without a moment's respite.

"Get used to it. You need to be able to do it as naturally as I do."

["E-easy for you to..."]

"Now, now."

The rebellious adolescence Jorm had entered two years ago was over. He heaved sigh after sigh and concentrated on refining mana as Kyle instructed.

The first-floor hall Kyle entered looked no different from four years ago, but as he strode across it, he could sense all sorts of things he hadn't perceived back then.

The intricate, magnificent magic that made up the enormous artifact called the Sword Tower. Kyle knew little about magic, but he could distinctly sense things like winding, interwoven blood vessels inside its floors and walls, and the mana flowing through them without rest.

And gazes from all around him. They belonged to the Funeral Knights residing in the tower and the magical devices monitoring its interior.

'I couldn't sense those four years ago.'

This was less an effect of the Primordial Unity Sword Scripture than of the body he had transformed by eating residue and byproducts. Feeling how his senses had sharpened like a finely honed blade, Kyle headed for the elevator.

He had a gift for Nelia in the grand library, too, but he went straight to the fourth floor without stopping there. Once he arrived, he repeated "Rose Manor" to the door, and immediately found himself facing the manor's front entrance.

His heart thumped.

Filled with anticipation, Kyle knocked on the door. Before long, it flew open.

"Kyle?!"

It was Arian who came to the door. Over the past four years, Kyle had grown rapidly, reaching the boundary between boyhood and manhood, but Arian remained as beautiful and almost unchanged as ever.

If anything, she seemed younger than four years ago. Standing before her again after so long, Kyle felt an overwhelming, inexplicable emotion he had never experienced even in his previous life.

"..."

What was this feeling? His heart was pounding, and his nose stung. He recognized that sting. He had cried in his previous life, too.

But he didn't know why he was about to cry now. Back then, he had sobbed when his father died, but Arian looked perfectly healthy standing before him. She looked even healthier and younger than four years ago, so why did he feel like crying?

"My boy!"

While Kyle was trying to work out why he felt like crying, Arian burst into tears first. She ran to him with her arms spread wide and hugged him.

"You're finally out?! I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"Uh... um, no."

Kyle looked up at the sky over the fourth-floor residential district. It wasn't a real sky, but something like a magically created ceiling. Even so, the sun was warm and dazzling. His eyes stung, and he quietly shed a few tears.

"Did you miss your mom enough to cry, son?"

So that was it.

Only now did Kyle understand why he was crying. Sadness wasn't the only thing that brought tears. They came when you felt wronged, when you were happy, and when you missed someone.

"You've grown so tall! You used to fit right in my arms..."

Arian looked up at him and beamed through tear-filled eyes. Seeing that she was now smaller than him made Kyle want to cry all over again. He didn't bother holding back the tears. He simply cried.

"You look younger than you did four years ago, Mom. Have you been taking elixirs or something?"

"Just listen to you. I always look young, elixirs or no elixirs. Over these four years... ahem, I did take a few."

After patting his back a few times, Arian clasped his hand tightly and led him into the manor.

"Come inside! Do you know how long I've been waiting for you? Now, Kyle, don't be surprised. While you were in there..."

"I heard I have a little sister now."

"Huh? How... how did you know?"

"I saw Grandfather before coming here."

Rubbing away his tears, Kyle let Arian lead him along.

"I did joke four years ago that I'd prefer a little sister, but I never imagined I'd actually get one. Be honest, Mom. How many days did it take you to forgive Father?"

Four years ago, Arian had thrown Aslan out and told him to live in the garden. When Kyle asked, remembering that, she cleared her throat and avoided his eyes.

"A... a month."

"You're lying."

"Y-yes. I'm lying. I actually let him back into the manor after a week. It... it was a little cold outside."

The fourth-floor residential district was temperature-controlled at all times, so it wasn't particularly cold even at night. And even if it had been, someone of Aslan's level wouldn't feel the slightest chill lying naked outdoors.

"..."

Kyle chose not to point any of that out.

Arian led him to a bedroom door on the second floor. The room had originally been left empty and unused... but now even its door looked unusual.

No, it wasn't just the door. The hallway walls were unusual, too. Kyle looked along the brightly colored scribbles, then at the sign hanging low on the door.

[Kaya's Room]

The sign was decorated with stickers of rabbits, cats, dogs, and other animals. Looking down at the crooked lettering, Kyle asked,

"Her name is Kaya?"

"Yes, that's right."

Arian opened the door with a radiant smile.

Beyond it was a room papered in pastel pink. Soft mats covered the floor, and colorful dolls and toys lay scattered everywhere.

And sitting in the middle of it all was Aslan.

"..."

He was quite a sight. Rabbit ears sprouted above his ash-gray hair, and his now sturdier body was clad in fluffy white fur.

"Rrrr! Peekaboo! Daddy Bunny goes hop, hop!"

Crouching there, Aslan wiggled his bottom and vigorously waved his white-furred gloves. Even as he performed these antics, his eyes trembled violently as he looked at Kyle.

"..."

There was no way Aslan hadn't noticed Kyle arriving at the manor, approaching the room, and coming through the door. He simply couldn't stop. Even now, he was looking at Kyle while energetically waving his bunny paws.

"Hop, hop!"

Frankly, the high-pitched voice he forced out of his deep bass was sickening to hear, but that was only Kyle's opinion.

"Ahahaha!"

A tiny girl sitting with her back to him burst into peals of laughter. Her neatly braided red hair bounced every time she laughed.

Aslan's appearance was shocking enough, but the girl's very existence was staggering. So staggering, in fact, that it rivaled the first time Kyle had felt those gazes in the Mudflats, or seen the hand beyond the horizon.

Arian laid a hand on Kyle's trembling shoulder. Gently stroking it, she spoke.

"Kaya."

At the warm voice calling her name, the girl turned around.

"..."

Kyle involuntarily caught his breath. Golden eyes holding a soft glow. White cheeks that looked wonderfully squishy. And, and... He gave up trying to take it all in one detail at a time. His little sister Kaya's cuteness was absolute.

"Oh..."

Before he knew it, Kyle was walking into the room. Normally, he would have strode in without hesitation, but he couldn't do that now. He approached Kaya very carefully, without making so much as a footstep.

"..."

Kaya blinked her round eyes up at him, then planted both hands on the floor and unsteadily stood. She was so very small. Of course she was small, being only two years old. But even knowing that, Kyle was astonished by how tiny she was. Like a doll.

"Who're you?"

Kaya blinked as she asked. Her speech was clumsy, as befitted her age, and it reminded Kyle of a time now more than ten years past. Back when he had been forced to set aside his dignity as the Sword Demon. When his mind worked perfectly well, but his body wouldn't cooperate, leaving him unable to speak clearly.

Smiling without realizing it, Kyle bent his knees to bring himself to Kaya's eye level. He couldn't quite get his lips to move, but his fingers moved of their own accord to stroke her soft cheek.

It was so squishy. Tilting her head, Kaya took a step closer. Curiosity filled her lovely golden eyes.

"Who're you?"

Only when she asked again did Kyle realize he hadn't answered his little sister's question. He calmed his pounding heart and replied,

"Kyle. I'm your big brother."

"Big Bwother?"

Her round eyes blinked. After staring blankly at Kyle for a moment, Kaya turned to Aslan. Still crouched in his bunny pose, Aslan nodded, his face full of emotion.

"He's your big brother."

At that answer, Kaya turned back to stare at Kyle. Arian crouched in front of her.

"I've told you all about him, haven't I? About your wonderful big brother."

"Mm..."

"Ahaha. I suppose it's a lot to take in, meeting him for the first time."

Arian chuckled and stroked Kaya's head. All the while, Kyle was still absentmindedly caressing her cheek with his fingers.

"Big Bwother."

Kaya murmured the words softly. Then she giggled and burrowed into Kyle's arms.

"Big Bwother!"

Tiny hands hugged his body. At the small, precious warmth pressing into his embrace, Kyle shuddered as though an electric shock had run through him.

'What is this feeling?'

It was strange. He'd had no siblings in his previous life. This was his first time being someone's big brother. Something soft and warm welled up in a corner of his heart, unfamiliar but not unpleasant.

"Big Bwother!"

A tiny white hand, tender as a fern shoot, stroked Kyle's cheek. His heart lurched at the touch. The shock was every bit as great as when he had first seen Ruin Alastor's sword in his previous life.

"Y-yeah. Big Bwother... that's me."

Stammering, Kyle slowly raised both hands. But once he'd lifted them, he hesitated, unable to move any further. Arian chuckled.

"Give her a hug."

Only then did Kyle carefully embrace Kaya, relaxing every bit of strength lest he hurt her. Warmth, softness, and a sweet milky scent. It felt as though the stench of rotting corpses and the fishy reek of the Mudflats still lodged deep in his lungs had been washed clean away.

"Wow..."

Holding Kaya, he carefully stood.

"Wow... wow..."

So many emotions swept over him, and he couldn't properly put any of them into words.

* * *

The family sat together in the pink room. Still unable to take off his rabbit costume, Aslan stared at Kyle with tears welling in his eyes, while Arian smiled contentedly beside him.

Kaya sat between Kyle's legs. Whatever she found so fascinating and entertaining, she kept gazing up at his face and beaming.

"Raising a child really is hard work," Arian began.

"I'm realizing very, very clearly just how well-behaved you were."

Even as a little boy, Kyle had hardly ever cried. He had never scribbled on the floors or walls, nor done anything incomprehensible.

But Kaya was different. Raising her overturned Arian's entire understanding of parenting, built through raising Kyle.

"Well, it isn't actually all that hard. Kaya is very clever, too. She learned to walk early, and she's quite good at talking... Besides, never mind all that. She's absolutely adorable. She is my daughter, after all."

"And my little sister."

Kyle gently stroked Kaya's braid. At that, she burst into giggles, grabbed her own hair, and began swinging it wildly.

"Why is she doing that?"

"Don't ask me."

SMACK! SMACK!

Kaya's braid struck Kyle's leg like a whip.

"Were you all right these past four years? Didn't you miss your mom?"

"Of course I did. And Father..."

The gaze fixed on him was so ardent that Kyle spared Aslan a look. The moment their eyes met, tears began rolling down Aslan's face.

"You're calling me Father."

"Well, you are my father."

Honestly, Kyle still couldn't feel that sort of affection for Aslan as a father. It couldn't be helped; four years ago, he had entered the Floor of Asceticism immediately after meeting him.

'We can start building that bond now.'

How? Should he babble like Kaya and act all sweet and clingy? He was too old for that now. At fifteen, he was old enough to start putting the Sword Demon's dignity first.

"Father."

Kyle looked straight at Aslan, whose tears were still falling.

"Let's have a spar."

He had never tried forging a bond with a father as his son, so he didn't really know how. But he knew very well how one swordsman grew close to another.

Swordsmen got to know each other through their swords.